Oscillating printing-press



(No Model.) Y 5- sneens-sneetf 1. F. H. RICHARDS. Oscillating Printing Press. `N"o. 241,421. s Patented May 10, 1881.

N. PETERS, Phoesmhcgnphqr, wmingm. ns a (No Mpaei.) @Smets-Sheena.

' P. H. RICHARDS.

' Oscillating Printing- Pr'ess. No. 241,42i. Patented May 10, 188|.

. N. P'ETERS mmhognpwar. washington. D. c.

(No Model.) I sheens-sheen a.

' F. H. RICHARDS. Oscillating Printing. Press. No. 241,421 Patented May1o,|s8|..

N. PUERS, Photomgmpher, Washngkon, D. C.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet. 4.

P'. E; RICHARDS.A "Oscillating PrintingPress. N'o.-241,42l. PatentedV May 10,'188I.

, 5. sheen-sheep 5.- F. lH. RICHARDS.- Oscillating' Printing Press. No.. 241,421; Pa'cemteclV May 10., 41881I (No Model.)

i 'UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF SPRINGFIELD, `MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GILMAN VERTICAL PRESS COMPANY, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

OSCILLATING PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming partv of Letters Patent No. 241,421, dated May 10, 1881.

- Application tiled September 3, 1880. (No model,)

To all whom fit-may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANcIs H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have in vented new-and useful Improvements inFoot-Power Printing- Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to self-inking printingro presses adapted to be operated by a foottreadle, and is in the nature of an improvement upon the patent to Edward L. Gilman, May 7,1878; and the objects thereof are to provide improved devices for guiding and turn- I 5 ing the platen in its upward and downward movements, for operating the'ink-roller carrier and ink-table, for governing the movements of the tympan-Engels, for carrying the platen against the type-bed with greatly-inf2o creased power, and for adjusting the face of the platen and of the type-bed to perfectly parallel planes.

I attain the above-named objects bythe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a front elevation ofthe printingpress embracing my improvements, showing the platen down against the bed. Fig. 2is an isometrical view of the parts of the press above 3o the table, also showing the platen down. Fig. 3 is a side elevation from the right, in which one of the stands is partly broken away and in which the platen is shown in its upward position. Fig. 4 is a left-hand side elevation,

3 5 partly in section, with the stands and one of the platen-posts removed. Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section, of an eccentric-bolt connection between the bed-frame and platen. Fig. 6 is an isometrical view of portions of the tympan-tin ger shaft and its operating devices. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of thele't-hand end of Fig. 6, the lower portion of the platen, and showing the relative positions of thelatterand the tympan-fin ger-operatin g devices with said fingers swung off from the platen. Fig. Sis a transverse section of one of the hollow posts a a and of the platen-shaft box and thetreadlc connecting-rod, together with the end of the platen-shaft and a portion of the platen.

Like let-ters and numerals refer to like parts 5o in the different figures.

The bed B, with its hollow posts an', table D, and stands c, constitute the frame of the machine. The bed B is provided witha suitable wide channel between the posts da', for the 5 5 reception of the usual printers chase, in which the type-form is locked, and said chase is secured in place under the platen by screws c5 through the ends of the bed. The platen Ais provided with ashaft, c, whose ends project be- 6o youd the ends thereof and throughboxes e', iitted to slide in the vertical slots formed in the Walls ofthe hollow posts a c adjoining the ends of the platen,and theange on saidboxes is adapted to ll the space between the said posts and the ends of the platen and prevent endwise motion of the latter.

Two vertical rods, d d, whose ends are. perforated transversely, are hung, one on each end of the platen-shaft c, within the hollow posts 7o a a', as seen in Figs. 1,4,and 8, and extend therefrom down through the table D. Said rods d are made in two parts, which are united by means of a split right-and-left screw-coupling, b, each provided with flanges, and a thumb- 7 5 screw through them, as shown, by means of which said coupling can be securely fastened in any desired position on said rods, and by turning said couplingthereon the rods can be nicely adj usted to such a length as the proper action 8o of the platen-moving devices may demand.

A shaft, h, is hung in proper bearings in the stands c parallel with the base of thebed B, and is adapted to have a reciprocating rotary v motion. Said shaft is provided with two arms, 8 5

d and d2, and `is bent for a short distance between each of said arms and the ends ofit into a double-crank form, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and centrally between its ends is fixed a segment of a circle,f, adapted to carry on its pe- 9o riphery a Wire rope or chain, g, which is secured to one end thereof, as shown. The other or lower end of said chain or rope g ris secured to a foot-treadle, E, whose rear end is pivoted to a rod, F, secured transversely between the rear lower ends of stands c. The lower' ends of the aforesaid vertical rods d d are pivotally connected to the sides of the arms d d2 at their ends by bolts passing through them, as seen in Fig. 1.

Two retracting-springs, H H, are secured adjustably by chains, as shown, to collars it on said rod F, and their upper ends are secured (likewise by chains) around shaft IL at the base of arms d d2, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3.

A rod, F2, .is fixed between the lower front ends of stands c, opposite rod F in the rear.

On one side ofthe segment f, near to shaft h, is pivoted a pawl-rod, j, its end next to said shaft bent in the form shown, and its opposite end is properly formed to engage with the ratchet-wheel K. A spiral spring, t,is attached to the under side of the table D and to said pawl-rod, as shown.

A circulai ink-table, M, is attached to the upper end of a vertical shaft, N, to the lower end of which is attached the aforesaid ratchetwheel K, and shaft N is fitted to revolve in a proper vertical bearing set in table D. A frictional spring, 0, is attached to the table, and bears slightly against the under side of the ink-table M.

Attached pivotally to the bolt which passes through the arm cl2 on shaft h and the lower end of one of the rods d is a connecting-rod, o2, made of the form shown in Fig. 3, and, running up through the table by the end of the bed B, is pivotally connected to one arm of a bellcrank lever, o3, which is pivoted to an arm, o4, projecting from the hollow post a', as seen in Figs. 2 and 3. An arm, o5, corresponding to said arm o4, projects from hollow post a, and attached pivotally thereto by a bolt, q, Fig 5, is a swinging arm, r.

A post, fr, projects from the upper side of the platen, as seen in Fig. 1, and to said post, and to the side ofthe aforesaid a-rm 05 on post a, is pivotally attached a connecting-rod, fv, bolt q passing through its end at arm o5. Said bolt g has that portion of it which passes through said rod e turned eccentric to its axis, as seen in Fig. 5. A set-screw, as shown, is placed in the end of arm o5, and adapted to be screwed against bolt q to preventit from turning. Connecting-rod v is provided with clamp pivot-holes, as shown, so that there may be no lost motion in this connection.

One arm of the bell-crank lever o3 is perforatedtransversely to receive the end of a shaft, v

s, and the other end of said shaft passes in like manner through aforesaid swinging arm r.

z is an ink-roller-frame carrier, consisting of the semi-tubular longitudinal part 2 and the parts 3 4, of like tubular form, at right angles to the former, and having an arm, 5, projecting from said part 3, as shown. The shaft s passes through the tubular portion 2 of the frame-carrier z, and the latter has an oscillatory motion thereon. The tubular parts 3 and,

4 of said carrier are set a little to one side of the axis of shaft s, as shown, and are adapted to receive two posts, 6 and 7 of the ink-roller frame w, on the upper ends of which are nuts Spiral springs 9 are placed on 8, as shown.

posts 6 and 7, between the carrier z and the frame fw. A bent connecting-rod, 10, is pivotally attached to the side of post a', next to the platen, and to the end of arm 5 on frame z.

Theink-rollers 11 are adapted to turn on shafts which are fitted to proper twin boxes attached to the frame fw, as shown, and are provided with collars near their ends, which roll on tracks 12, running transversely across bed B, when the ink-rollers run off from the typeform.

On the upper side of the platen, near its rear edge, are provided two short posts, 13, which are perforated transversely for the reception of the tympan-finger shaft 14, which is splined longitudinally, as shown, and has a crank, 15, formed on one end thereof, and to the end of said crank is rigidly xed a bentlever, 16, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Pivotally attached to the side of crank 15, as shown in Fig. 6, is a rod, 17, provided with adjusting-nuts, as shown, and its upper endenters a hole formed through a projection,18,.on the back of the platen. A spring, 19, is interposed between said proj ection 18 and said nuts on rod 17.

The tympan-fingers 20, of which there are two, having collars 21 formed on their lower ends to it on shaft 14, and bent in the form shown, are secured on said shaft by set-screws whose points enter said spline in said shaft, and said fingers reach from the shaft under the bottom edge and up in front of the platen, as seen in Figs. 3 and 7.

Fixed to the outer sides of the posts aaare two vertical rods, 22, adapted to support two brackets, 23, each of which is adapted to support a paper-table, 24, pivotally hung on said brackets to one side of their centers.

The operation of my press is as follows, it being understood that the usual provision of type-forni and ink has been made: The position of the operating parts of the press, when the platen is up, presenting its under side or face conveniently for placing the paper to be printed upon it, is that shown in Fig. 3. Upon pressing upon the foot-treadle E shaft h is caused to turn by the action of the rope or chain g, attached to the periphery of the segment f. As said shaft turns arms d d2 are caused to swing downward, drawing rods d connected to the ends of the platen-shaft c and the platen in the same direction. Immediately that said downward movement begins the platen commences to turn on its shaft in boxes c', so actuated by the connect-ion of the post on the back of the platen with the fixed arm o5 on post a of the frame through the connecting-rod e, and while moving down turns so as to bring its face squarely against the type thereunder, or to the position shown in Figs.v 1, 2, and 4.

To enable the operator to so adj ust the plane of the face of the platen that it shall perfectly agree with the plane ofthe type-face, means for slightly swinging the platen on its shaft While nearly against the type are provided in the bolt q, connecting one end of rod lv with arm o5. i By turning this bolt slightly its eccentric portion causes rod c to move longitudinally in the direction required to adjust the platen to the necessary plane, and when so adjusted the bolt may be secured against turning by the set-screw shown on one side of arm o5. When shaft l1. is turned far enough over to bring the ends of arms d d2 down to the position relative to the axis of said shaft which the double-crank shape of it permits before rods d can strike it, a very great pressure of the platen upon the bed is produced as said arms `and rods approach a correspondingline, and a powerful printing impression is the result. While shaft h is revolved, as above stated, springs H are elongated, and upon lifting the foot from the treadle their retracting power turns said shaft in the opposite direction and lifts the platen back to its upward position. Said springs, as heretofore set forth, are connected to collars i on rod F, and by turning and setting said collars suitably thereon the tension of said springs may be increased or diminished, as may be desired. When shaft his revolved to bring the platen down, as above described, the pawlrod j is drawn toward the front of the machine, and when said shaft turns back the `end "of said rod engages with the ratchet-wheel K, and so turns the ink-table M partly around, spring t serving to hold the end of the rod against the wheel. Y

It will be seen that the ink-rollers in Fig. 1 are shown in front ofthe posts a a', having been brought into that position and across the typeform from the inktable as the platen moved up. Figs. 1 and 2 `show the position of the said rollers and their actuating parts when the platen is down. Simultaneously with the downward movement of the platen just described occurs the backward movement of the ink-rollers onto the ink-table, actuated by the swinging of the bell-crank lever 03, caused by the downward.

movement of rod o2, connecting itwith arm d2 on shaft h.

The connection of the upper end of the inkroller-frame carrier z with post a by the connectin g-rod 1() allows said frame to swing freely below said rod. `Frame z obeys the oscillating motions of shaft s, the latter being actuated by the movement of the bell-crank lever. Thus each time that the platen goes up the ink-rollers are carried from the ink-table across the types between posts a a, and when it descends theyreturn to said table and the springs 9 tend to force the rollers against the type-bed` sufficiently to cause the form to be properly inked.

It will be observed that the tympan-lingers, when the platen is up,ispriug away from the face of theplaten, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, and they are caused `to move to this position by the striking of lever 16, Fig. 7, against shaft s when the platen swings to this position; but as soon as the platen has turned slightly on its axis said lever is moved away from said shaft, and, spring 19 operating to drive rod 17 downward, shaft 14 is revolved, causing the lingers 20 to quickly spring against the face of the platen and hold the paper placed thereon to be printed.

The paper-tables 24, supported on brackets 23 at the ends of the bed, are provided with pivots placed on their under sides, one side of their centers, and said brackets may be swung backward and the tables 24 be swung over the ink-table in such a way that they offer no obstruction to placing a box-cover over the whole upper part of the machine.

This press may be easily converted into a power-press by any suitable attachment whereby shaft h is caused to have a reciprocating rotary motion, such as is given to it by the treadle and its shaft-connections and by springs H, in which case those parts may be dispensed with.

By the construction herein described and shown a self-inking foot-power press is provided which is simple in construction, one in which an unusually large type-form can be practically printed from, owing to the great power which operates to force the platen down, and in which the self-inking devices are simple and effective.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, in a printing-press, of the bed B, provided with the slotted posts a a', the platen A, provided with its shaft e, and the connecting-rod c, secured pivotally to the platen and to the frame of the machine, and appliances for moving the platen vertically between said posts, substantially a's and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the bed B, of the platen adapted to be moved vertically against it, the connecting-rod a, attached to the platen, and the eccentric-bolt q, securing said rod to the frame of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the connectingrods d d, of adjustable length, connected to the platen-shaft, of the shaft h, provided with arms d cl2, and with the segment j', of the treadle connected with said segment, and of the springs H, adjustably connected with thel frame of the machine, substantially as andforA the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with theink-roller-frame carrier z, of the connecting-rod 10, pivotally attached to the latter and to the frame of the machine, shaft s, arm r, and bell-crank lever o3, connected with shaft h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

H. A. CHAPIN, 1. L. DOLE.

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